Greetings! Thank you for your interest in the National Christmas Tree Music Program!

2008 Schedule of Nightly Performances

How to apply | How to be selected |
Musical Entertainment Policy

How To Apply

The Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Lighting of the National Christmas Tree will take place on Thursday, December 4, 2008.

The dates of the 2008 National Christmas Tree Music Program are Saturday, December 6, 2008 through Tuesday, December 23, 2008.

Performance requests will be accepted from Monday, September 1 until Friday, September 19, 2008.  Applications must be submitted or postmarked on or before Friday, September 19, 2008.  Faxes or e-mails received by 12 midnight (EST) of the closing date will be considered for selection.

2008 National Christmas Tree Evening Music Program Application and Information Sheet (4 pages)

Pdf format (353 kb)
Word format (129 kb)

2008 National Christmas Tree Evening Music Program Application (2 pages)

Pdf format (46 kb)
Word format (142 kb)

How To Be Selected

A committee will review all completed applications by three weeks after the deadline. The Music Program Coordinator will contact you to discuss your possible performance date.

Due to the popularity of the music program, each group will be limited to one performance. It's very important to prioritize the three possible dates you wish to perform. Your application will be placed in a "first-choice date" category along with other "first-choice date" applicants. One member of the committee will randomly pick three envelopes for the "first-choice date". If not selected, your application will be placed with "second-choice date" applicants and so on to the "third-choice date" group. If not selected at all, your application will be placed on a waiting list in case a group decides not to perform. (One application per group)

Musical Entertainment Policy

The National Park Service's National Christmas Tree Music Program at President's Park is intended to provide musical entertainment for park visitors during December on the Ellipse, where in celebration of the holiday season, visitors can observe the National Christmas Tree, visit assorted yuletide displays, and attend musical presentations. Park visitors come from diverse backgrounds and nations, and include individuals, families, and groups, with ages ranging from the very young to senior citizens. Consistent with the Constitution's Establishment Clause and its mandate of government neutrality, which has allowed the placement of holiday secular and religious displays, the National Christmas Tree Music Program's holiday musical entertainment may include both holiday secular and religious music. To ensure that any proposed music selection is consistent with the Establishment Clause, and presented in a prudent and objective manner as a traditional part of the culture and heritage of this annual holiday event, it must be approved in advance by the National Park Service.

Logistical Information

Logistical information is available for selected groups who are performing for the National Christmas Tree Music Program. more...